This is a follow-up of a post I made in November 2009 about the Veterans Day ceremony to honor fallen soldiers at the Detroit Elmwood Cemetery. Because this was my first time at this ceremony I was unaware of the history behind the soldiers that were buried at this cemetery. I have since discovered a part of history that is rarely written or even mentioned in the history books. I have become truly intrigued by this piece of history. Why had I not heard about this before? This post is primarily about Michigan's 102nd Regiment United States Colored Troops but this same scenario was repeated among many of the northern states where both free African Americans and run away slaves joined the Union Army and Navy in a fight for freedom. The US Cavalry, artillery and infantry units combined total approximately 180,000 African Americans. They were not allowed to fight with white soldiers but were given their own regiments that were comprised of African American soldiers under the command of white officers. The US Navy by contrast had a larger number of African Americans serving on ship with whites. The conventional wisdom in the 1860s was that African Americans would not have the courage to fight but many battles recorded by journalist and written accounts by the commanding officers proved otherwise. They fought and fought gallantly often to the praise of their white counterparts. This is something worth noting because this issue of African Americans not having the will or courage to fight came up in every major US war. The same thing was said during World Wars I and II, the Korean War and the Vietnam war. Almost as if every few years America suffers from amnesia. But again and again African American has shown that they have the courage and willingness to served this country.
The Michigan 102nd Regiment United States Colored Troops officially entered the Civil War on February l7th, 1864. However, prior to the war Detroit was known as the escape route into the promise land, and was an important part of the Underground Railroad. Many run away slaves made their way through Detroit on their way to Canada. So Michigan and Detroit in particular had a well established abolitionist movement. Many of Detroit's prominent African-American citizens that were actively involved in the Underground Railroad helped to organize the First Michigan Colored Regiment, later renamed the 102nd Regiment United States Colored Troops. Some of the well known Detroit abolitionist of the time were William Lambert, George DeBaptise, Dr. Joseph Ferguson, Reverend William Moore, Willis Nelson, John Jackson and William Webb.
For 25th years, a growing group of veterans, historians, students and other citizens have gathered, in Historic Elmwood Cemetery to honor the memory of Michigan's 102nd Regiment United States Colored Troops. The Veterans Day Ceremonies were inspired by Beulah Hamilton. It was during her visits to Elmwood that Mrs. Hamilton noted that there was never an American flag flying over these gallant men’s gravesite, the gravesite of the 102nd Regiment United States Colored Troops.
“To honor their legacy and the legacy of my husband, I decided to hold a Veteran’s Day ceremony there every year,” Mrs. Hamilton said.
The 102d Regiment United States Colored Troops fought throughout the South Carolina, eastern Georgia and Florida. They were engaged in the following battles:
-Baldwin, Fla., August 8, 1864
-Honey Hill, S.C., November 30 1864
-Tullifinny, S.C., December 7, 1864
- Devaux Neck, S.C., December 9 1864
- Cuckwold's Creek Bridge, February 8, 1865
- Sumterville, S.C., April 8, 1865
- Spring Hill, S.C., April 15, 1865
- Swift Creek, S.C., April 17, 1865
- Boykin's, S.C., April 18, 1865
- Singleton's Plantation, S.C., April 19, 1865.
This regiment had an enlistment that totaled 1,446 officers and men. They lost 140 men of which 2 were officers, 4 men were killed in action, 5 men died of wounds, 1 officer and 128 men died of disease. In October 17, 1865 after distinguishing themselves in battle the 102nd returned to Michigan and was disbanded.
There are more pictures of this event on my website: www.chopper52.smugmug.com
I'm searchin for my Grandfather grave site and his name is Horace MacCray or McCray)and was born December 25,1874 he was in the World War 1 Draft Reg Card in 1917-1918)in Detroit,I don't no If he is at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit,so just need help Sir/Madame
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